Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
When you think about adopting a dog, the first place you visit might be your local animal shelter; if you’re in Alexandria, that would be the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). If you’re considering adding a cat to your family, the AWLA might once again be the first place you think of.
But what if you want to adopt a rabbit? Or a parakeet? Or a turtle, a ferret, a lizard, a chinchilla, a hamster, a mouse or even a hedgehog?
While the majority of animals adopted at the AWLA are dogs or cats, Small Animals (or SMAMs) make up 10 to 15 percent of the animals who find new homes through the AWLA each year. The care of each of these small animals is different, requiring unique equipment, handling and even placement of the animal in the facility.
For example, domestic turtles, which the AWLA see regularly, require a tank big enough to accommodate 10 gallons of water for every inch of their shell length; for some of the larger red-eared sliders who have been at the AWLA in the past year, this means a 90- or even 100-gallon home per turtle. Most cold-blooded animals, like snakes and lizards, need to be located close to electrical outlets that can power heat lamps and rocks for them to regulate and maintain their body temperatures.
Small birds, on the other hand, like parakeets and budgies, prefer a space in the AWLA’s community room; it is often quieter than other locations in the shelter and has a warm, consistent airflow that these tropical animals require.
Staff members pride themselves in being experts in the different types of small animals who pass through the doors of the AWLA. Animal Care staff member Amanda Johnson loves some of the more exotic mammals, like sugar gliders (a small nocturnal marsupial), as well and rabbits and guinea pigs. In her time at the AWLA, staffer Jennifer Yang has become a turtle authority and is happy to talk to anyone about the joys of terrapin companionship.
This species-focused care continues as animals prepare to head home with their adoptive families. Ferrets and rabbits are spayed/neutered and microchipped before they go home. Other animals may be sent home with favorite toys or treats. All animals have seen the AWLA’s staff veterinarian during their stay, and each adopter receives additional information about exotic animal vets in the area. Notes about their veterinary evaluations, behavior and even medical records are also reviewed with and provided to adopters to help set these pets up for success in their new homes.
Yes, adopters even receive information on a small animal’s behavior when he or she was at the AWLA. Staff members and a dedicated cadre of volunteers take the time to find out what makes each animal tick, providing them with activities to enrich their stay and maybe even learn a few tricks. Volunteer Terye Dame noticed a newly arrived turtle didn’t seem to be acting the way she was used to turtles behaving, so she let staff know. When the veterinary team examined the turtle, they realized that she was blind and used that information to reconfigure her enclosure in a way that would be more comfortable to her.
“It was amazing to feel I’d made such an impact for her,” Dame recalls. But Dame’s first SMAM experiences were with rabbits, including a young black rabbit named Jojo. “Not all rabbits like this, but Jojo’s favorite thing was to be picked up and held like a baby. I introduced so many volunteers — and potential adopters — to rabbits when they saw him snuggling up like that. It’s how he ultimately met his future family.”
Every adoptable animal is different and unique, but each is loving, intelligent and shows off his or her own individual personality. Animals like rats can be taught cues like "sit" and "fetch." And AWLA turtles are regularly taught target training to help them engage more confidently with humans.
Adopter Cecelia Michalowski says her newly adopted hamster Boba is the perfect pet for her apartment. “I spend a lot of time crafting toys and hideouts he can use and am always looking at objects around my house that I can remake for him. He’s so silly to just sit and watch play, and incredibly soft to hold and cuddle with,” she shared. “I’ve been wanting a furry friend for a while, and getting [Boba] was the best decision I’ve made.”
So the next time you’re ready to adopt a pet — of any type — check your local animal shelter first. Not only might you be surprised by the menagerie of animals available for adoption, but they can also provide you with information about their personalities, their background and even veterinary care. But most importantly, you will be changing two lives: that of a homeless animal… and your own!
